Recruitment and retention of agricultural workers was identified by the Prince Edward Island Agricultural Sector Council in 2007 as a major issue facing the Prince Edward Island (PEI)
agricultural industry. Although there have been numerous studies on the supply and demand for agricultural workers, there has been little research on the demand for migrant agricultural labour on PEI. To date, the research has primarily focused on analyzing and estimating labour shortages, skills development requirements and understanding labour recruitment and retention practices. This study examined the current demand for migrant labour on PEI and revealed both a high interest in migrant labour and a high level of dissatisfaction with local seasonal and full-time workers. As yet few agricultural employers have recruited migrant workers. The findings from this study also identified a number of factors such as a lack of accommodation and the cost of airfare which have deterred agricultural employers from recruiting agricultural workers from abroad. The findings also indicate that many seasonal agricultural positions go unfilled. Thus, before employers can begin to actively recruit migrant workers from abroad, several improvements are needed to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).

Use/Reproduction

In presenting this signature project report in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, the author has agreed that the Robertson Library, University of Prince Edward Island, may make this signature project freely available for inspection and gives permission to add an electronic version of the signature project to the Digital Repository at the University of Prince Edward Island. Moreover the author further agrees that permission for extensive copying of this signature project report for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised the author’s project work, or, in their absence, by the Dean of the School of Business. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this signature project report or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to the author and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in the author’s report.